Trailer hitch



w I ET AL 2,408,531

TRAILER HITCH I Filed Dec. 18, 1944 IIIIIIIIIIIIA IN V EN TORS rm/W Patented Get. 1, 1946 TRAILER HITCH Howard C. Riemann, West Milwaukee, and Joel E. Thorp, West Allis, Wis., assignors to The Fulton Company, West Allis, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 18, 1944, Serial No. 568,576

13 Claims.

, construction, flexible in its adaptations, and efi'icient in use.

. While numerous types of so-called trailer couplings for connecting trailers to draft vehicles such as tractors and automobiles, have heretofore been used extensively, considerable difficulty has been encountered in attempting to apply these couplings to modern streamlined vehicles whereinsuitable points of attachment are normally concealed by the bodies, fenders. and bumpers and are therefore relatively inaccessible. Perhaps the most successful and extensively used trailer coupling, comprises in general a socketed member adapted to be attached to the draft bar of the trailer, and a ball member normally coacting with the socket of the trailing member and formed for attachment to some durable and sturdy portion such as the frame of the draft vehicle. However, in the latest streamlined automobile models, it is impossible to conveniently attach accessories such as couplin draft vmembers directly to the frame and bumper because of the concealment of the rear frameportions and obstructions produced by relatively thin coverings such as sheet metal bodies, fenders, and

. splash plates; These. sheet metal parts are insufficiently strong to withstand the pull induced by a trailing vehicle, and in many cases even the bumpers are not sufficiently strong. In most cases, the bumpers are also made inaccessible by splash pans, license plate frames, and the like, and the bolts which attach the bumpers to the bumper brackets often become loose or havetheir threads stripped, thus permitting the bumpersto drop off. The extreme diversity in design of bumpers also makes standardization of bumper coupling clamps practically impossible, and it has heretofore been difficult to readily detachably and firmly attach such coupling members to streamlined vehicles. Then too, in cases Where the trailer coupling israrelyused, it is undesirable to have the coupling draft member which is attached to such a streamlined vehicle, clearly V visible. andprotruding when not in actual use,

because such visibility of the coupling element besides marring the appearance of the car, also (Cl. 280-33A4) projecting part adapted to cause injury or damage.

It is therefore a more specific object of our invention to provide an improved trailer hitch for streamlined vehicles such as standard automobiles of various models, which may be conveniently applied to diverse types of vehicles in an effective manner, and all portions of which may be readily concealed when not in actual use.

Anotherspecific object of the invention is to provide an improved durable and strong accessory for connecting one of the elements of a trailer coupling to a suitable portion of a draft vehicle, and which is quickly adjustable to fit vehicles of different styles or types.

A further specific object of this invention is to provide an improved draft assemblage which is attachable to the normally concealed frames of streamlined automobiles or the like, and which may be readily adjusted or placed into an invisible position and concealed and protected by the bumper of the car to which it is applied. 7

Still another specific object of our invention is to provide an improved trailer coupling hitch which may be manufactured and sold at moderate cost, which may be readily applied to or removed from a vehicle by a novice, and which avoids interfering with the normal use of the vehicle bumper bar when the hitch is inactive.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting the present improvement, and of the construction and operation of trailer hitches embodying the invention, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forminga part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

,Figl is a fragmentary plan view of one of our improved trailer hitches, snowing the same applied to the bumper bracket of one type of vehicle having minimum distance between anchoring points, and also showing the coupling ball member thereof in active position disposed outwardly beyond the rear bumper bar;

Fig.2 is a similarly fragmentary rear view of the assemblage of Fig. 1, showing the bumper removed and the bumper bracket in section;

Fig. 3 is another fragmentary plan view of the same hitch assembly, showing the same attached to the bumper bracket of another type of vehicle bumper assemblage having maximum distance 3 between anchoring points, and likewise showing the coupling member in active position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section through the new trailer hitch, taken near its mid portion and showing the ball coupling member in active position in solid lines and in inactive position in dot-and-dash lines, and also illustrating several typical bar bumper sections; and

Fig. 5 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary View of one of the adjustable clamps for rigidly attaching the hitch to a bumper bracket which is shown in section.

While our invention has been shown hereinas being especially adapted for-use on streamlined automobiles of various models and makes and in conjunction with ball and socket type trailer couplings such as disclosed in our coependingapplication Serial No. 564,036, filed November 18, 1944, now Patent No, 2,392,063, Jan. 1, 1946, it is not our desire or intent to unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of-the-improved features by virtue of this limiteddisclosure,

Referring to the drawing, the improved trailer hitch assembly shown therein is especially adapted 'to be conveniently attached to the rear bumper brackets-l of an automobile'or'the like on opposite sides of the central longitudinal plane of the vehicle as near to the vehicle frame as possible, and-forwardly or the rear bumper bar 8 and beneath therear spIashplate- S; The bumper brackets l and bumper bars '3 may-assume various shapes and sizes depending upon-the model or type of car, and the vehicle frame and the brackets-l are normally concealed'from view at the'top and'si-des by the splash plates 9, the fenders and the bodiesof the automobiles.

Our improved hitch assemblage comprises in general acentral U-sha-pedbracket it having a rigid channel shaped bar l l secured to-its front portion, said bar'beingprcvided witha series of alin-ed slotsiE oneach side of the central plane of the bracket; an elongatedcha-nnel shaped member l3'slidabl-y adjustable along each slotted side portion of th rigid cross-bar 'I I, each memberl3-having a rectilinear series of polygonal openings ll "therein which are 'alineable "with the slots E2 of the bar 1 l, and also having an-arouate'series of similar openings [5 at-the outer widened and flat extremity l3 thereof; a-U shaped clamp i'l disposed beneath the flattened outer extremity-of each adjusting memberi 3 carriage bolts i 8- coo-perablewi-ththe slots i2; openings l 4, l5 and with openings in thefl'anges of the clamps i'l'to hold the parts inassembledcondition; a

draw ba-r or-pla-te l9--swingably suspendedirom the opposite resilient side walls of the central bracket ld'by meanscf a pivot pin-2d and having 7 its swinging end forme dfor detach-able applicatic-n era-coupling ball member 2%; and aclampingbolt=22 and clamps 23 coacting-withthe main bracket id and with the draft plate lEl-to'fi-rmly retain the latter-either inactive orinactive position.

The bracket wand the cross-bar li-may be formed-of sheet metal with'the aid'of punches andd-iesand may be firmlyunitedby welding or other-wise,- or they may beproducedfrom a single piece of metal. The channel shape of the bar ll provides extremely rigid attaching arms projecting-laterally away from the bracket-I ii, and these arms-may be provided with lowerloops 24 which serve as pointsof attachment for safety cables or chains required byla-w in some States, and which may also he-used asmani-pulatinghandles. The channel shaped adjusting members 13 whichare slidably adjustable along the bar ll, may also be formed of sheet metal with the aid of punches and dies, and the same is true of the clamps ll, 23 of the draft plate l9, thereby facilitating quantity production of the entire accessory. Standard carriage bolts l8 may be used to adjustably but firmly attach the members l3 to the bar ii and the clamps ll to the members l3; and by disposing the slots l2 and the openings Hi in rectilinear alined series, any of the openings 14 may be brought into open alinement with selected slots 12 or" the adjacent series, thereby providing great ranges of outward straight line adjustment forthe members l3 relative to the central bracket iii. By disposing the openings E5 in the flat end portions it of the members E3 in arcuate series disposedrinarcs having as centers the extreme end openings 58 or the adjacent rectilinear series, any desired degree of swinging adjustment is readily obtainable for the clamping brackets ll, so that these brackets may thus be caused to coact with bumper braces 'l'of various shapes and spaced apart various distances, as near to the main frame of the vehicle as possible.

The carriage bolts l8 may obviouslybe readily applied to any-of the slots 12 and openings l4, l5 and are provided with ordinary clamping nuts 25 and lock washers 25 as shown in Fig. 5; and the square or otherwise polygonal portions of such bolts located near the heads thereof, will prevent turning of the bolts 58 within the similarlypolygonal' openings [4, 15 of 'the members l3, thus permitting manipulation of the nuts 25 from beneath. The swingablyadjustable draft bar or plate is is preferably-bent as shown in Fig. 4,-in order to clearthe lower edge of the rear bumper bar 8 when the hitch is in use, and the pivoted end of the plate 19 is looped'aroun-d the pivot pin 2% and may be welded so asl-to prevent spreading of the loop.. The coupling ball member 2! may also -be-f-orn1ed of sheet metal as disclosed in our prior application ihereinbeforereferred to, and is provided with-an-attaching boltil' and with a nut- '28-and lockwasher 29 coacting with thebolt 23":to firmly secure themember -2l to the swinging end ofthe bar 1-9. Theclamps-QS and thebolt 22' which coact with the opposite resilient side flanges or walls of the central bracket ill, are adapted to clamp these walls against the opposite sides of the end loop of the plat-ell so as to firmly hold the-latterin either active and accessibl-e,position-asshown-insolid lines in Fig. 5, or in inactive and concealed.- position-as illustrated in dot-and-dash lines. In order to assist in thus holding the draw bar 19 in position,- th clamps 23 areprovided with lugs?! which penetrate the side walls of the bracket 10,- and thebolt 22 is embraced by coil/springs 32 which pull the lugs LE-l ;out of the pathof swing of the bar plate!!! when the -nut -30- is-released.- The-bolt ZZ may be provided with anordinarynut 3l-J--for clamping purposes, butneed not beprovided with a'lock washer since the-resiliency of the side walls of the bracket Landerthe-sheet metal clamps 23 and springsS-Z make the use ofsuch washers unnecessary. 1

During normal use of the'improved trailer coupling hitch, theadjustable channel shaped members I 3 may be'slidalong the laterallyproject- "ing-"arms-ofthe cross-bar"! l tO-any'dBsired position'fso that the U -shapedclamps I l which are initially loosely suspended ,from the outer 'portion'i ii of the members I 3; maybe caused to properly cooperate with the bumper supporting brackets i of the particular vehicle to which the accessory is to be'applied, as near to the frame of the vehicle a possible. The members I3 may then be firmly attached to the cross-bar II in the desired positionsof adjustment with the aid of bolts l8, either as shown in Fig. 1, or as shown in Fig. 3. The-U-shaped clamps I! may then be swingably adjusted about the end. openings 18 of .th'eadjacent rectilinear series, and caus'edfto properly cooperate with the adjacent portions of the bumper supporting'brackets 1, whereupon bolts 18 maybe applied to the pivot openings l4 and to'the nearest opening l5 of the adjacent arcuate series, so as to firmly clamp the members 13 to thebrackets 1 as illustrated in Fig. 5. The assemblage will then be firmly attached to the vehicle, and the draft plate. l9 may thereafter be swung either'into active or into inactive position at the will of the operator, and locked in either of these positions with the aid of the clamping bolt 22, in an obvious manner. It will thus be'noted that the improved attachment may be readily applied to vehicles of diverse models and styles-and that the coupling ball member 2| which is carried by the outer swinging end of the draft bar or plate l9 may be conveniently disposed either in accessible or in concealed position. The auxiliary loops which are rigidly attached to the cross-bar H may be used when necessary, for purposes of attaching safety cables or chains, thus making the appliance extremely flexible in use and in its adaptations.

From the foregoing detailed description it Will be apparent that our present invention provides an improved trailer hitch which besides being extremely simple and compact in construction, is highly flexible in it adaptations, and is also highly efficient in normal use. Since all of the major parts of the assemblage may be readily formed from sheet metal with the aid of presses, punches and dies, the manufacturing cost of the assemblage is reduced to a minimum, while a sturdy and durable assemblage results. The use of standard bolts besides reducing the initial cost also makes replacement of lost bolts readily possible, and it has been found that the improved accessory can be readily applied to various types of automobiles without marring these structures or diminishing the aesthetic appearance thereof. The improved trailer hitch has proven highly successful in actual use and the provision of the rectilinear and arcuate series of adjusting openings [4, I5 has been found extremely useful in facilitating attachment of the accessory to different types of vehicles.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction, or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In a trailer hitch, a bracket having fixed laterally spaced side walls and rigid arms extendsaid arm an elongated supporting member slidably. cooperable with each of said arms and each being formed for independent adjustable attachment to the'adjacent arm along said openings, and av clamp pivotally adjustable about a vertical pivot relative-to the outer end of each of said supporting members.

'zi3.In" a trailer'hitch,.a bracket havingrigid arms extending from the, opposite sides thereof, a coupling member secured to said bracket between said arms, a supporting member slidably adjustable along each of said arms, and a clamp swingably adjustable upon the outer end of each of said'supporting members, each of said supporting members having therein a rectilinear .set

ing outwardly away from said walls, a coupling 7 of bolt holes and anarcuate series of similar holes for effecting locking of said member to the adjacent arm and locking of said clamps to the adjacent supporting members.

4. In a. trailer hitch, a bracket having opposite side walls and channel shaped arms extending outwardly therefrom, a channel shaped supporting member slidably adjustable along eachv of said arms, a U-shaped clamp suspended from the outer end of each of said supporting members, a draw bar swingably suspended from said bracket between said side walls, and a coupling member secured to the swinging end of said draw bar.

5. In a trailer hitch, a bracket having opposite side walls and channel shaped arms extending outwardly therefrom, a channel shaped supporting member slidably adjustable along each of said arms, a U-shaped clamp suspended from the outer end of each of said supporting members, a draw bar swingably suspended from said bracket between said side Walls, a coupling member. secured to the swinging end of said draw bar, and means coacting with said walls to clamp said draw bar so as to retain said coupling member in either active or inactive position.

6. In a trailer hitch, a bracket having spaced side walls and channel shaped rigid arms extending laterally therefrom, a channel shaped elongated supporting member slidably adjustable in a straight line along eachof said arms, a U- shaped bumper bracket clamp swingably adjustably suspended beneath the outer end of each of said supporting members, means for locking said members to said arms and said clamps to said members in various positions of relative adjustment, and a draw bar swingably suspended from said bracket between said walls.

7. In a trailer hitch, a bracket having spaced side walls and channel shaped rigid arms extending laterally therefrom, a channel shaped elongated supporting member slidably adjustabl in a straight line along each of said arms, a U- shapedbumper bracket clamp swingably adjustably suspended beneath the outer end of each of said supporting members, means for locking said members to said arms and said clamps to said members in various positions of relative adjustment, a draw bar swingably suspended from said bracket between said walls, and means coacting with said side walls to retain said draw bar in various positions of adjustment about its suspension pivot.

8. In a trailer hitch, a bracket having opposite side walls and rigid arms extending outwardly therefrom, an independent supporting member slidably adjustable along each of said arms, a U- shaped clamp suspended from the outer end of each of said supporting members, a draw bar swingably suspended from said bracket between said side walls, and a coupling member secured to the swinging end of said draw bar.

9.- In a trailer hitch,a bracket having opposite sidewalls and rigid arms extending outwardly therefrom, an independent supportingmember slidably adjustable along each of said-arms, a U- shaped clamp suspended from the outer end of each of said supporting members, a draw bar swingably suspended from. said bracket between said side walls, a coupling member securedzto the swinging end of said draw bar, and means coacting with said walls to clamp saidrdraw bar so as to retain said coupling member in. either active exposed or inactive concealed position.

10. In a trailer hitch. a bracket having rigid arms extending from the opposite sides thereof, a coupling member secured to said bracketbetween said arms, a supporting member horizontally slidably adjustable along each of said arms toward and away from said coupling member, and an attaching clamp for the hitch swingably adjustable about a vertical pivot relative to the outer end portion of each of said supporting members.

11; In a trailer hitch, a bracket having rigid arms extending from the opposite sides thereof, a coupling member swingably suspended from said bracket between said arms upon a horizontal transverse pivot, a supporting member horizontally slidably adjustable along each of said arms toward. and awayifrom said coupling member, and: an attaching :clamp for the hitch swingably adjustable about-a. vertical pivot relative to the outer end portion of .each of said supporting members.

12,111 a trailer hitch, a bracket having opposite, side walls andichannel shaped arms, extendingioutwardly therefrom, a channel shaped supporting member slidablyadiustable along each of said arms, a. clamp suspended, from the outer end of eachoisaidsupporting members, a draw barfiswingably suspended from said bracket be.- tween said side walls, and a coupling member securedlto .the swingingvend of said draw bar.v

13. .In a trailer hitch, a bracket having opposite side walls and channel shaped arms extendlngoutwardly therefrom, a channel shaped sup- 

